British and French send ultimatum to the Chinese Govenment threatening war

The British minister to China, Sir Frederick Bruce, along with the French minister the Compte de Bourboulon, issued a joint ultimatum from Shanghai to the Chinese authorities in Beijing demanding restitution for recent attacks and the ratification of the Treaty of Tiensin.  No reply was given in the thirty days specified and a military campaign from Shanghai eventually marched on and occupied the Imperial capital.  (By John Osborne)